Video signal processing device for displaying information image on display part

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a video signal processor by which information included in video information displayed by a supplied video signal can be used without bothering the hand of a user. When an execution instruction input of a screen memo function is received from the user through a remote controller ( 100 ), a control part ( 20 ) controls a capture memory part ( 5 ) to fetch a displayed image as a static image. The fetched static image is supplied to a child screen processing part ( 9 ) and displayed on a child screen. The control part ( 20 ) recognizes characters of character information included in the image fetched to the capture memory part and stores them in an EEPROM ( 24 ) to be secondarily used.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a video signal reproducingdevice such as an optical disc reproducing device which uses a receiverfor receiving a television signal or a VTR (video tape recorder) or aDVD (Digital Versatile Disc) serving as an optical disc as a recordingmedium, or a video signal processor and an image reproducing device suchas a television picture receiver.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A television broadcasting program, what is called a televisionshopping that articles of trade are introduced by the televisionbroadcasting program (refer it to as a television broadcast program,hereinafter) and the purchase application for the articles of trade isaccepted by a telephone is broadcast. In this television shopping, thetelephone number of the other party to which a purchase application ismade is most frequently displayed on the display screen of thetelevision picture receiver (refer it to as a television receiver,hereinafter) as display information in the broadcast program to providethe telephone number for viewers.

[0003] Further, as the number of users of the internet increases,television broadcast programs have been increased that opinions,impressions, requests, etc. for the television broadcast programs areaccepted or applications for presents to viewers are accepted byelectronic mails (E-Mail) for transmitting and/or receiving informationthrough the internet.

[0004] Further, there have been also increased television broadcastprograms that, what is called a Web page as provided information whichcan be accessed through the internet is opened in a server deviceconnected to the internet, and the detailed information or the like ofinformation introduced while the television broadcast program isbroadcast is provided through the Web page.

[0005] In these television broadcast programs, when the electronic mailor the Web page is employed, a mail address serving as the destinationof the electronic mail or a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) whichspecifies the Web page to access the Web page is frequently displayed onthe display screen of the television picture receiver as displayinformation in the television broadcast program to be provided for theviewers.

[0006] When the information which specifies the destination of the otherparty of a communication such as a telephone number, a mail address, aURL, etc. is displayed in a television broadcast program which a viewerwatches, the viewer takes copies of them on a memo sheet. Then, theviewer telephones, or writes an electronic mail and transmits it to theother party specified by the copied mail address, or accesses a Web pagespecified by the copied URL to read it.

[0007] As described above, in the television broadcast program thatvarious kinds of applications are accepted or information is providedthrough a communication network such as a telephone or the internet, thedisplay of telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses, URLs. etc. maybe sometimes finished while the viewer prepares a memo sheet or takescopies of them.

[0008] Therefore, is recently loaded in some of television picturereceivers, what is called a screen memo function that a displayed imageis fetched as a static image and the static image is displayed so thatnecessary information can be relatively slowly recognized without thelimitation of time, or the memo of the necessary information can beprecisely taken.

[0009] As described above, when the viewer tries to communicate with theother party or receive the provision of information by using thetelephone number, the electronic mail address or the URL provided in thetelevision broadcast program, the viewer needs to copy them on a memosheet, or to dial the telephone number and manually input the electronicmail address or the URL while viewing the information fetched as thestatic image in accordance with the screen memo function.

[0010] Therefore, there are frequently generated mistakes that the wrongtelephone number is dialed, the electronic mail cannot be transmitted tothe destination of the other party, or a desired Web page cannot beaccessed or the like due to an input error. Further, when the viewercopies the wrong telephone number, the wrong electronic mail address,and the wrong URL on a memo sheet by mistake, the viewer cannotcommunicate with the desired party even by telephoning many times orrepeatedly inputting the electronic mail address or the URL.

[0011] Recently, there is provided a what is called an internettelevision picture receiver capable of being connected to the internetwhich is provided with a communication function as well as a function asthe television picture receiver. The use of this internet televisionpicture receiver makes it possible to connect the television picturereceiver to the internet, to transmit and/or receive an electronic mailand access a Web page with the same sense as to view the televisionbroadcast program without using a personal computer or the like.

[0012] A function as the television picture receiver for receiving andreproducing the television broadcasting signal of the internettelevision picture receiver is different from an internet connectingfunction for connecting the internet television picture receiver to theinternet. Therefore, in the internet television picture receiver, whenthe viewer uses the electronic mail address or the URL provided by thetelevision broadcast program, the viewer also needs to input them one byone.

[0013] When using the screen memo function, since the screen on whichthe electronic mail address or the URL is displayed is fetched as thestatic image and the static image is displayed, information providedthereafter during the television broadcast program may be possiblyoverlooked.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to solve theabove-described problems by taking the above-described circumstancesinto consideration and to provide a video signal processor in whichinformation included in video information displayed by a supplied videosignal can be employed without annoying a user and the video informationdisplayed by the supplied video signal is not overlooked.

[0015] The video signal processor according to the present inventionproposed to solve the above-described problems comprises: fetchinstruction input accepting means which accept an image fetchinstruction input in accordance with a received or read video signal;image storing means which fetch the video signal of one screen and storeit when the fetch instruction input is accepted by the fetch instructioninput accepting means; video signal processing means which provide asubscreen in a display area as a part of a display screen when the fetchinstruction input is accepted by the fetch instruction input acceptingmeans so that the image by the video signal of one screen stored in theimage storing means is displayed on the subscreen and the image inaccordance with the received or read video signal is displayed on themain screen of the display area except the subscreen; characterinformation recognizing means which recognize characters in characterinformation displayed in the image displayed by the video signal of onescreen stored in the image storing means; character informationextracting means which extract necessary information from the characterinformation the characters of which are recognized by the characterrecognizing means; and character information storing means which storethe character information extracted by the character informationextracting means.

[0016] According to the video signal processor, when the fetchinstruction input is received from the user through the fetchinstruction input means, a video signal for forming an image of onescreen among the received or read video signals is fetched and stored bythe image storing means. The image of one screen by the video signalfetched by the image storing means is displayed on the subscreen and theimage by the subsequently received or subsequently read video signal isdisplayed on the main screen by the video signal processing means.

[0017] The character information included in the image by the videosignal which is fetched by the image storing means so as to be displayedon the subscreen is recognized by the character information recognizingmeans and the necessary information of the recognized characterinformation is extracted by the character information extracting meansand stored in the character information storing means.

[0018] Thus, when the image including the necessary characterinformation is displayed, the video signal thereof is fetched by theimage storing means so that the image by the fetched video signal can bedisplayed and recognized on the subscreen provided on the display areaas a part of the display screen and the image by the subsequentlyreceived or subsequently read video signal can be displayed and viewedon the main screen. Therefore, the necessary information can beassuredly recognized and the image by the subsequently received orsubsequently read video signal can be watched without overlooking it.

[0019] Further, the characters of the necessary information of thecharacter information displayed in the image displayed on the subscreenare recognized by the character recognizing means and extracted by thecharacter extracting means and the extracted characters are stored inthe character information storing means. Thus, the character informationcan be read as required and secondarily used. Accordingly, theinformation included in the displayed image can be obtained and usedwithout annoying the hand of the user.

[0020] Further, the video signal processor according to the presentinvention comprises: communicating means to be connected to acommunication network so that a communication process is performed;fetch instruction input accepting means which accept an image fetchinstruction input in accordance with a received or read video signal;image storing means which fetch the video signal of one screen and storeit when the fetch instruction input is accepted by the fetch instructioninput accepting means; video signal processing means which provide asubscreen in a display area as a part of a display screen when the fetchinstruction input is accepted by the fetch instruction input acceptingmeans so that the image by the video signal of one screen stored in theimage storing means is displayed on the subscreen and the image inaccordance with the received or read video signal is displayed on themain screen of the display area except the subscreen; using instructioninput accepting means which accept the using instruction input ofcharacter information included in the image displayed on the subscreen;character information recognizing means which recognize characters inthe character information displayed in the image displayed by the videosignal of one screen stored in the image storing means, when the usinginstruction input is accepted through the using instruction inputaccepting means; character information extracting means which extractcharacter information indicating the other party of a communication fromthe character information the characters of which are recognized by thecharacter recognizing means; and control means which control to performa communication process through the communicating means on the basis ofthe character information extracted by the character extracting means.

[0021] According to the video signal processor, when the fetchinstruction input is received from the user through the fetchinstruction input means, a video signal for forming an image of onescreen of the received or read video signals is fetched and stored bythe image storing means. The image of one screen by the video signalfetched by the image storing means is displayed on the subscreen and theimage by the subsequently received or subsequently read video signal isdisplayed on the main screen by the video signal processing means.

[0022] When an instruction for using the character information displayedin the image displayed on the subscreen is received through the usinginstruction input means, the character information displayed in theimage displayed on the subscreen is recognized by the characterinformation recognizing means and the character information indicatingthe other party of the communication among the recognized characterinformation is extracted by the character information extracting means.Respective parts are controlled by the communication control means so asto perform a communication through the communicating means on the basisof the extracted character information.

[0023] Thus, when the image including the character informationindicating the other party of the communication is displayed, the imagecan be automatically recognized and a communication can be performed byusing it. Therefore, the character information showing the other partyof the communication displayed in the image by the received or readvideo signal can be obtained without annoying the hand of the user andthe communication can be performed by employing it.

[0024] Further, the image by the video signal fetched by the imagestoring means can be displayed and recognized on the subscreen providedin the display area as a part of the display screen and the image by thecontinuously received or read video signal can be displayed and viewedon the main screen. Accordingly, the character information showing theother party of the communication can be assuredly recognized and theimage provided by the continuously received or continuously read videosignal can be also viewed without overlooking it.

[0025] Other objects of the present invention and specific advantagesobtained by the present invention will become more apparent from thedescription of an embodiment which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a receiver and televisionpicture receiver constituting a video signal processor according to thepresent invention.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an appearance of a remote controllerconstituting the television picture receiver shown in FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C show diagrams for explaining an example that atelephone number displayed as display information is secondarily used.

[0029]FIGS. 4A to 4D show diagrams for explaining an example that anelectronic mail address displayed as display information is secondarilyused.

[0030]FIGS. 5A to 5D show diagrams for explaining an example that a URLdisplayed as display information is secondarily used.

[0031]FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processes upon execution of ascreen memo function in a television mode.

[0032]FIG. 7 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 6.

[0033]FIG. 8 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0034] Now, an embodiment of a video signal processor and an imagedisplay device according to the present invention will be described byreferring to the drawings.

[0035] In the embodiment described below, the video signal processor andthe image display device according to the present invention is appliedto a television picture receiver.

[0036] The television picture receiver to which the present invention isapplied has such a construction as illustrated by a block diagram inFIG. 1.

[0037] The television picture receiver according to the presentinvention comprises a channel selecting part (tuner part) 2 connected tothe receiving antenna 1 of a television broadcast signal of ground waveinstalled outside, a demodulating part 3, a selector 4, a capture memorypart 5, a D/A converting part 6, a video signal processing part 7, aswitch circuit 8, a child screen processing part 9, an imagesynthesizing part 10, a cathode-ray tube as a display 11, an audiosignal amplifying part 12 and a speaker 13.

[0038] Further, the respective parts of the television picture receivershown in FIG. 1 are controlled by a control part 20. The control part 20is a microcomputer comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM(Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 and an EEPROM(Electrically Erasably Programmable Read Only Memory) 24 which areconnected together through a CPU bus 25.

[0039] The ROM 22 records various kinds of processing programs executedin the television picture receiver according to the present invention ordata required for processes or the like. The RAM 23 is mainly used as aworking area for various kinds of processes, for instance, temporarilystoring and holding data obtained in the various kinds of processes. TheEEPROM 24 is, what is called, a nonvolatile memory in which stored andheld information is not lost even when a power is turned off and variousparameter information is stored and held.

[0040] To the control part 20, a telephone circuit 30 is connected. Thetelephone circuit 30 serves to connect a communication network such as atelephone network or the internet to the television picture receiver ofthis embodiment. In this embodiment, the telephone circuit 30 isconnected to a telephone line L connected to the telephone network. Aterminal MJ connected to the telephone line L is, what is called, amodular jack for connecting the telephone line L to the televisionpicture receiver of this embodiment. To the telephone circuit 30, ahandset 31 for speaking is connected through a connecting terminal JK.

[0041] The television picture receiver of this embodiment is connectedto the internet through the telephone circuit 30, the telephone line Land a prescribed ISP (Internet Service Provider) so as to transmitand/or receive an electronic mail and receive the provision of variouskinds of information (contents) such as a Web page provided on theinternet.

[0042] In the television picture receiver of this embodiment, thetelephone line is connected between the other party as a desireddestination and the television picture a receiver through the telephonecircuit 30 and the telephone line L so that a conversation can be madethrough the handset 31. As described above, the telephone circuit 30 hasa function as, what is called, a modem and also serves to realize atelephone function.

[0043] Therefore, a control part 100 serves to control the telephonecircuit 30 to be hooked on or off. When the control part controls thetelephone circuit 30 to be hooked off, it is provided with a functionas, what is called, a dialer for transmitting a prescribed dial signal.

[0044] To the control part 20, a hard disc drive 42 is connected throughan interface (abbreviated it as an I/F part, hereinafter) 41. The harddisc drive 42 is loaded with a hard disc as a recording medium. The harddisc drive 42 can record data supplied from the control part 20 throughthe I/F part 41 on the hard disc, read the data recorded on the harddisc and supply the data to the control part 20 through the I/F part 41.

[0045] On the hard disc loaded in the hard disc drive 42, the contentsof the so-called Web page got through the internet, the receivedelectronic mail, or the electronic mail to be transmitted is stored andheld, as mentioned above. The information recorded on the hard disc canbe read out and employed as required.

[0046] To the control part 20, a remote command signal light receivingpart 51 is connected through an I/F part 51. The remote command signallight receiving part 51 receives the infrared ray of a remote commandsignal from a remote commander 100, converts this signal to an electricsignal and supplies the electric signal to the control part 20. Thus,the control part 20 controls the respective parts in accordance with theremote command signal from the remote commander 100 received by theremote command signal receiving part 52 to perform a processcorresponding an instruction input operation from a user conducted tothe remote commander 100.

[0047] The television picture receiver of this embodiment includes atelevision mode for receiving and selecting a television broadcastingsignal, and demodulating and reproducing the selected televisionbroadcasting signal, an internet mode for connecting the televisionpicture receiver to the internet by providing the telephone circuit 30as described above so as to access the contents of the Web page providedon the internet, an electronic mail (E-Mail) mode for writing anelectronic mail, transmitting the written electronic mail or receivingan electronic mail to the address of a user by connecting the televisionpicture receiver to the internet and a telephone mode for speaking tothe other party as a desired mate by connecting a telephone line to theother party thorough a telephone network.

[0048] The television picture receiver of this embodiment includes ascreen memo function for fetching an image displayed on the display 11as a static image when the television picture receiver is under thestate of a television mode. This screen memo function is a functionthat, when display information (character information) required for auser (viewer) who watches a television broadcast program is displayed onthe display 11, a video signal for forming the image of one screen atthat time is fetched to a capture memory part 5 described below anddisplayed on a child screen provided in a display area as a part of thedisplay screen of the display 11.

[0049] In this case, the display information required by the userincludes the telephone number of a destination to which a purchaseapplication is made which is displayed when the user views thetelevision broadcast program such as a television shopping, theelectronic mail address of a destination for accepting opinions orimpressions to the television broadcast program or a destination of theother party of a communication such as the URL of a Web page forproviding the detailed information of information provided by thetelevision broadcast program.

[0050] The television picture receiver of the present embodiment alsoincludes a character recognizing function for detecting by recognitionof the characters of information for specifying the other party of acommunication such as a telephone number, an electronic mail address, anURL, etc. which are displayed as the display information (characterinformation) in the image displayed by the video signal fetched by thescreen memo function. The detected information can be secondarily used.

[0051] In the television picture receiver of this embodiment, when theuser instructs the information for specifying the other party of thecommunication detected by the character recognizing function to be used,as described below in detail, the telephone circuit can be controlled toperform a communication between the other party of a desired destinationand the television picture receiver in accordance with the detectedinformation for specifying the other party of the communication.

[0052] In the television picture receiver of the present embodiment, theoperating keys of the remote commander 100 are operated to manuallyswitch respective modes. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining one exampleof the remote commander 100 of the television picture receiver of thepresent embodiment.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 2, the remote commander 100 for the televisionpicture receiver of the present embodiment is provided with a power onand/or off key 101, and includes, as various kinds of function keys, anon and/or off key 102 of a sleep function, an on and/off key 103 of amute function, a switching key 104 to an internet mode, a switching key105 to an electronic mail mode, a switching key 106 to a televisionmode, a switching key 107 to a telephone mode, an execution key 108 of ascreen memo function and an erase key 109 of a screen memo function.

[0054] The remote commander 100 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a group ofnumeric character keys 110 for selecting channels, an up and/or down key111 for selecting a channel of a television broadcasting signal, and anup and/or down key 112 of sound volume, and includes an on and/or offkey 113 of a menu display, a reset key 114, a return key 115, an enterkey 116 to execute processes from a prepared menu, and an up and/or downkey 117, a right arrow key 118 and a left arrow key 119 used for movinga cursor.

[0055] The remote commander 100 generates a remote command signalcorresponding to the operating key operated by the user and transmits itas an infrared ray signal. Thus, as described above, the user can notonly turn on and/or off the power, but also turn on and/or off the mutefunction and the sleep function. Further, under the television mode, theuser presses down the execution key 108 of the screen memo function, sothat the user can execute the screen memo function.

[0056] The switching key 104 to the internet mode, the switching key 105to the electronic mail mode, the switching key 106 to the televisionmode, and the switching key 107 to the telephone mode are pressed down,hence a mode can be switched to the mode corresponding to the depressedswitching key.

[0057] As described above, immediately after the power is turned on, thetelevision picture receiver of the present invention is brought to thetelevision mode under the control of the control part 20. Then, duringthe television mode, a television broadcast signal received through theantenna 1 is supplied to the channel selecting part 2.

[0058] The channel selecting part 2 selects a television broadcastsignal corresponding to a channel select instruction signal from thecontrol part 20 from among the television broadcast signals from theantenna 1 and supplies the selected television broadcast signal to thedemodulating part 3. The demodulating part 3 demodulates the suppliedtelevision broadcast signal, supplies the demodulated video signal andaudio signal to the selector 4 and also supplies the video signalsupplied to the selector 4 to the capture memory part 5.

[0059] The capture memory part 5 serves to realize the so-called screenmemo function and is provided with a memory for storing the video signalfor forming the image of one screen when the user presses down theexecution key 108 of the screen memo function of the remote commander100. The video signal fetched to the capture memory part 5 is D/Aconverted in the capture memory part 5 and the converted video signal issupplied to the input end b of the switch circuit 8 provided in thepost-stage of the selector 4.

[0060] To the selector 4, the video signal and the audio signal suppliedfrom the control part 20 are supplied through the D/A converting part 6as well as the video signal and the audio signal from the demodulatingpart 3. The video signal and the audio signal supplied to the selector 4through the D/A converting part 6 from the control part 20 are theinformation of the so-called Web page fetched through the telephonecircuit, for instance, provided on the internet or the information of anelectronic mail or the like.

[0061] The selector 4 switches whether either the video signal from thedemodulating part 3 or the video signal from the control part 20supplied through the D/A converting part 6 is supplied to the videosignal processing part 7 or either of the video signal is supplied tothe input end a of the switch circuit 8 in accordance with a switchcontrol signal from the control part 20. The selector 4 switches whethereither of the audio signal from the demodulating part 3 and the audiosignal from the control part 20 supplied through the D/A converting part6 is supplied to the audio signal amplifying part 12 in accordance withthe switch control signal from the control part 20.

[0062] The video signal processing part 7 forms a displaying signal fromthe video signal from the selector 4 and supplies the displaying signalto the image synthesizing part 11. To the switch circuit 8 provided inthe post-stage of the selector 4, are supplied the video signal from theselector 4 and the video signal for displaying the static image storedin the capture memory part 5 when the execution key 108 of the screenmemo function is pressed down as described above, and switches whethereither of them is outputted in accordance with the switch control signalfrom the control part 20.

[0063] The video signal outputted from the switch circuit 8 is suppliedto the child screen processing part 9. The child screen processing part9 serves to display images in a two-screen manner called a PinP (Picturein Picture). The PinP has a child screen in an area as a part of thedisplay screen of the display and a parent screen in an area except thechild screen so that images are independently displayed on the childscreen and the parent screen.

[0064] The child screen processing part 9 applies a process for reducingthe image by the video signal from the switch circuit 8 so as tocorrespond to the size of the display area as the child screen providedin the area as a part of the display screen of the display 11 andsupplied the processed video signal to the image synthesizing part 10.

[0065] The image synthesizing part 10 combines the video signal (thevideo signal for the parent screen) from the video signal processingpart 7 with the video signal (the video signal for the child screen)from the child screen processing part 9 to form a video signal fordisplaying the images of the two screens including the parent screen andthe child screen on the display screen of the display 11 and suppliesthe formed video signal to the display 11.

[0066] As described above, the television picture receiver of thepresent embodiment forms video signal processing means by the videosignal processing part 7, the child screen processing part 9 and theimage synthesizing part 10 so that the images can be displayed in such amanner that the images are independently displayed on the two screens ofthe parent screen 11M and the child screen 11S respectively as describedbelow and shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C. In the television picture receiverof this embodiment, when the screen memo function is not performed, thecombining process of images is not carried out in the image synthesizingpart 10 and the image by the video signal from the video signalprocessing part 7 is displayed on the entire screen of the displayscreen of the display 11.

[0067] The audio signal amplifying part 12 amplifies an audio signalsupplied thereto to a prescribed level and supplies the amplified audiosignal to the speaker 13. Thus, a sound corresponding to the audiosignal outputted from the selector 4 is emitted from the speaker 13.

[0068] [Use of Screen Memo Function]

[0069] As described above, in the television mode, when the informationfor specifying the other party of the communication such as a telephonenumber, an electronic mail address, a URL, etc. is included in the imagefetched to the capture memory part 5 by using the screen memory functionas the display information (character information), the displayinformation is detected by recognizing the characters thereof to besecondarily used.

[0070] When the telephone number is displayed in the image of atelevision broadcast program which is fetched as a static image, when anelectronic mail address is displayed in the image, and when an URL isdisplayed in the image, the operations of the television picturereceiver when the television receiver secondarily uses these informationwill be described below.

[0071] [When the Television Number is Displayed]

[0072]FIG. 3 shows diagrams for explaining an example that, when thetelephone number of a destination to which a purchase application ismade is displayed as character information in a television broadcastprogram of a television shopping which a user views, the image thereofis fetched and secondarily used.

[0073] Under the television mode, a video signal from the demodulatingpart 3 is supplied to the display 11 through the selector 4, the videosignal processing part 7 and the image synthesizing part 10. As shown inFIG. 3A, the image of the television broadcast program is displayed onthe entire screen of the display screen 11G of the display 11. Further,in this case, an audio signal from the demodulating part 3 is suppliedto the speaker 13 through the selector 4 and the audio amplifying part12. Then, the sound of the television broadcast program is emitted fromthe speaker 13.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 3A, when the telephone number of the destinationto which the purchase application is made is displayed, the user pressesdown the execution key 108 of the screen memo function of the remotecommander 100 shown in FIG. 2. When the execution key 108 of the screenmemo function is pressed down, an infrared ray remote command signal forinstructing the execution of the screen memo function is transmittedfrom the remote commander 100. The remote command signal is received bythe remote command signal light receiving part 52 of the televisionpicture receiver and converted to an electric signal and the electricsignal is supplied to the control part 20.

[0075] When the control part 20 receives the supply of the signal forinstructing the execution of the screen memo function, the control partcontrols the capture memory part 5 to A/D convert the video signal fromthe demodulating part 3 and fetch the A/D converted video signal to thecapture memory of the capture memory part.

[0076] The capture memory part 5 fetches the video signal of one screen(corresponding to one frame) from the demodulating part 3, D/A convertsthe fetched video signal and supplies the D/A converted video signal tothe input end b of the switch circuit 8 as the video signal fordisplaying the image of one screen. At this time, the switch circuit 8is switched to output the video signal supplied to the input end b inaccordance with a control signal from the control part 20.

[0077] The control part 20 supplies the control signal to the synthesisprocessing part 10 to combine the video signal from the video signalprocessing part 7 with the video signal from the child screen processingpart 9. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3B, the child screen 11S is provided onthe display 11 and an area except the child screen serves as the parentscreen 11M.

[0078] As mentioned above, to the child screen processing part 9, issupplied the video signal from the capture memory part 5 supplied to theinput end b of the switch circuit 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, theimage (static image) including the telephone number fetched to thecapture memory part 5 by the screen memo function as the displayinformation is displayed on the child screen 11S and the image of thetelevision broadcast program from the video signal processing part 7 isdisplayed on the parent screen 11M.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 3B, when the screen memo function is executed todisplay the image including the telephone number, and then, the otherparty is called on the telephone by using the telephone number displayedin the image, if the child screen is displayed on the display screen asshown in FIG. 3B, the execution key 108 of the screen memo function willbe pressed down again. Then, the character recognizing process of thecharacter information included in the image fetched to the capturememory part 5 is started by the control part 20.

[0080] The control part 20 reads and analyzes the video signal (videdata) fetched to the capture memory part 5 and defines an area in whichthe character information may be included. Then, the control part formsthe matching data of a part which may have characters within the areaand performs a pattern matching of the formed matching data with thematching data of characters previously prepared in the ROM 22 of thecontrol part 20 to recognize the characters. Then, the recognizedcharacters are encoded to character data and the character data isstored and held in the EEPROM 24.

[0081] In such a manner, the telephone number displayed in the imagefetched to the capture memory part 5 as the static image is recognizedas the character information by using the so-called pattern matchingmethod and stored and held in the EEPROM 24 so that the characterinformation can be secondarily employed.

[0082] The control part 20 hooks off the telephone circuit to read anddecode the telephone number (character data) stored and held in theEEPROM 24 by recognizing the characters thereof, perform a dialoperation using the decoded telephone number and connect the telephoneline to the other party of the telephone number whose characters arerecognized.

[0083] After that, when the telephone line is connected to the otherparty, a communication service can be done through the handset 31connected to the telephone circuit 30 through the connecting terminal JKas shown in FIG. 1. In the case of this example, the telephone line isconnected to a purchase application receiving center as a destination towhich the purchase application of goods is made so that the purchaseapplication of goods can be made. In this case, the user canautomatically dial to telephone on the basis of the telephone numberwhose characters are recognized without performing the dial operation.Therefore, the user can rapidly telephone to the other party as adesired target without requiring a labor to separately take a note ofthe telephone number provided as the display information. Since the usercan telephone on the basis of the telephone number whose characters arerecognized, the user can rapidly and assuredly telephone to the otherparty as a desired target to speak thereto without dialing the wrongtelephone number.

[0084] [When the Electronic Mail Address is Displayed]

[0085]FIG. 4 shows diagrams for explaining an example that, when aviewer views a television broadcast program in which an electronic mailaddress is displayed as character information as a destination to whichan application for a present to viewers is made or a destination towhich opinions or impressions are sent, the user fetches the image ofthe electronic mail address as a static image and secondarily uses it.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4A, when the image of the television broadcastprogram is displayed on the entire screen of the display screen of thedisplay 11 and the electronic mail address is displayed as thedestination to which the application for the present to viewers is madeor the destination to receive the opinions or the impressions isdisplayed in the displayed image, the user presses down the executionkey 108 of the screen memo function of the remote commander 100 shown inFIG. 2. Then, a video signal is fetched to the capture memory part 5under the control of the control part 20 in the television picturereceiver like the above described example that the telephone number isdisplayed as the character information by referring to FIG. 3. Then, asshown in FIG. 4B, an image including the electronic mail address fetchedto the capture memory part 5 as a static image as character informationis displayed on the child screen 11S and the image of the televisionbroadcast program from the demodulating part 3 is continuously displayedon the parent screen 11M.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 4B, the screen memo function is executed todisplay the image including the electronic mail address on the childscreen 11S as the static image, and then, an electronic mail is to betransmitted to the other party of the electronic mail address includedin the static image, the execution key of the screen memo function ispressed down. Then, the control part 20 reads and analyzes the videodata fetched to the capture memory part 5, defines an area which maypossibly include character information and forms the matching data of apart which may have characters within this area. The control partperforms a pattern matching of the formed matching data with thematching data of characters previously prepared in the ROM 22 of thecontrol part 20 to store and hold the recognized characters in theEEPROM 24 as character data.

[0088] The electronic mail address displayed in the image displayed bythe video signal fetched to the capture memory part 5 is recognized asthe character information and it is stored and held in the EEPROM 24 soas to be secondarily used.

[0089] In the television picture receiver of the present embodiment,when the image including the electronic mail address is displayed on thechild screen 11S as the static image, as shown in FIG. 4B, and then, theexecution key of the screen memo function is pressed down again, forinstance, the frame part of the child screen 11S is displayed in aninverted manner in order to show the user that an instruction for usingthe electronic mail address is received, as shown in FIG. 4C.

[0090] Then, the control part 20 reads and executes the writing programof an electronic mail stored in the ROM 22 or the hard disc of the harddisc drive 42 and supplies a video signal for displaying an electronicmail writing screen to the selector 4 through the D/A converting part 6.

[0091] The control part 20 controls the selector 4 to supply the videosignal for displaying the electronic mail writing screen from thecontrol part 20 to the video signal processing circuit 7, supply thevideo signal from the demodulating part 3 to the input end a of theswitch circuit 8 and supply the audio signal from the demodulating part3 to the audio signal amplifying part 12.

[0092] Further, the control part 20 controls the switch circuit 8 tooutput the video signal supplied to the input end a of the switchcircuit 8 from the switch circuit 8, supplies the outputted video signalto the child screen processing part 9 and controls the imagesynthesizing part 10 to display the image in the manner of PinP.

[0093] Thus, as shown in FIG. 4D, on the parent screen 11M is displayedthe electronic mail writing screen on which the electronic mail addressdetected by recognizing the characters is inputted as the electronicmail address of the other party as a target. An electronic mail can beprepared by employing this electronic mail writing screen.

[0094] Then, the up and/or down key 117 of the remote commander 100 isoperated to select a transmit button icon (not shown) provided in theelectronic mail writing screen and the enter key 116 of the remotecommander 100 is pressed down to instruct the television picturereceiver to transmit the prepared electronic mail.

[0095] When the control part 20 receives this transmit instruction, thecontrol part 20 controls the telephone circuit 30 to be hooked off,reads the telephone number of a prescribed ISP previously stored in theEEPROM 24 and telephones, so that the telephone line is connected to thedesired ISP. Then, the prepared electronic mail is transmitted to themail box of the other party specified by the electronic mail addresswhose characters are recognized through the ISP.

[0096] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4D, on the child screen isdisplayed the image of the television broadcast program from thedemodulating part 3 and the sound of the television broadcast program isemitted from the speaker. Thus, even when the electronic mail iswritten, or the electronic mail is transmitted, the attention to thetelevision broadcast program which the viewer is watching is notinterrupted, information provided by the television broadcast programcan be prevented from being overlooked or being failed to hear.

[0097] Since, as an electronic mail address, the electronic mail addresswhose characters are recognized in the control part 20 of the televisionpicture receiver is directly used, the user does not need to manuallyinput the electronic mail address having relatively many characters, andaccordingly, the user can rapidly and precisely write and transmit anelectronic mail to the other party as a desired target.

[0098] [When the URL is Displayed]

[0099]FIG. 5 shows diagrams for explaining an example that, when the URLof a Web page for providing information associated with a televisionbroadcast program which a viewer views or the URL of a Web page forproviding the detailed information of the information provided by thebroadcast program is displayed as character information, the imagethereof is fetched as a static image and secondarily employed.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 5A, the image of the television broadcastprogram is displayed on the entire screen of the display screen 11G ofthe display 11. When the URL of the Web page provided in the internet isdisplayed in the displayed image, a user presses down the execution key108 of the screen memo function of the remote commander 100 shown inFIG. 2. In this case, a video signal is also fetched to the capturememory 5 under the control of the control part 20 in the televisionpicture receiver like the example that the telephone number is displayedas the character information as described by using FIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 5B, the image including the URL fetched to the capture memory part5 as the character information is displayed on the child screen 11S andthe image of the television broadcast program from the demodulating part3 is continuously displayed on the parent screen 11M.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 5B, when the screen memo function is executed todisplay the image including the URL as the static image, and then, theWeb page specified by the URL included in the static image is to beaccessed, the execution key of the screen memo function is pressed downagain. Then, the control part 20 reads and analyzes the video datafetched to the capture memory part 5 to define an area which maypossibly include the character information and forms the matching dataof a part which may have characters within this area. Then, the controlpart performs a pattern matching of the formed matching data with thematching data of characters previously prepared in the ROM 22 of thecontrol part 20 to recognize the characters and store and hold therecognized characters in the EEPROM 24 as character data.

[0102] The URL displayed in the static image fetched to the capturememory part 5 as the static image is recognized as the characterinformation and stored and held in the EEPROM 24 in such a manner, sothat the URL can be secondarily used.

[0103] In the television picture receiver of the present embodiment, inorder to show the user that an instruction for using the URL isreceived, for instance, the frame part of the child screen 11S isdisplayed in an inverted manner as shown in FIG. 5C. After that, thecontrol part 20 reads and executes the access program (what is called abrowser) of the Web page stored in the ROM 22 or the hard disc of thehard disc drive 42. Then, the control part supplies a video signal fordisplaying the access screen of the Web page to the selector 4 throughthe D/A converting part 6.

[0104] The control part 20 controls the selector 4 to supply the videosignal for displaying the access screen of the Web page from the controlpart 20 to the video signal processing circuit 7, supply the videosignal from the demodulating part 3 to the input end a of the switchcircuit 8 and supply the audio signal from the demodulating part 3 tothe audio signal amplifying part 12.

[0105] Further, the control part 20 supplies a switch control signal tothe switch circuit 8 to switch the switch circuit so that the videosignal supplied to the input end a of the switch circuit 8 is outputtedand supplied to the child screen processing part 9, and controls theimage synthesizing part 10 to continuously display the image in a mannerof PinP.

[0106] At the same time, the control part 20 controls the telephonecircuit 30 to be hooked off, reads the telephone number of a prescribedISP previously stored in the EEPROM 24 and telephones the ISP to connecta telephone line. Then, the control part accesses the Web page specifiedby the URL whose characters are recognized through the ISP to downloadthe Web page.

[0107] The downloaded Web page is supplied to the image synthesizingpart 10 through the D/A converting part 6, the selector 4 and the videosignal processing circuit 7 from the control part 20. Thus, as shown inFIG. 5D, the Web page specified by the URL detected by recognizing thecharacters is displayed on the parent screen 11M.

[0108] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5D, the image of thetelevision broadcast program from the demodulating part 3 is displayedon the child screen and the sound of the television broadcast program isemitted from the speaker, so that, even when the Web page is displayed,the attention of a viewer to the television broadcast program which theviewer is watching is not interrupted, and the information provided bythe television broadcast program can be prevented from being overlookedor from being failed to hear.

[0109] As the URL, since the URL whose characters are recognized isdirectly used in the control part 20 of the television picture receiver,the user does not need to manually input the URL having relatively manycharacters, and can rapidly and precisely download and display a desiredWeb page.

[0110] Since the telephone number, the electronic mail address and theURL displayed in the image of the television broadcast program whosecharacters are recognized are stored and held in the EEPROM 24, they canbe repeatedly employed. Accordingly, when the connection of a telephoneline cannot be made even by calling the other party of a desired targetor a desired ISP on the telephone, a redialing operation can beautomatically performed at prescribed intervals or the telephone numbercan be inputted again to connect the telephone line at a timinginstructed by the user.

[0111] [Processes of Television Picture Receiver Upon Execution ofScreen Memo Function]

[0112] Now, processes upon execution of the screen memo function underthe television mode will be described below by referring to flowchartsshown in FIGS. 6 to 8. When the power of the television picture receiverof the present embodiment is turned on to operate under the televisionmode, the control part 20 of the television picture receiver of thepresent embodiment performs the processes shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0113] Firstly, the control part 20 waits for the input of an operationfrom a user through the remote commander 100 (step S101). In thedeciding process of the step S101, when the control part decides thatthe input of the operation is done, the control part decides whether ornot the input of the operation instructs the execution of the screenmemo function (step S102).

[0114] In the deciding process of the step S102, when the control part20 decides that the input of the operation is not an instruction forexecuting the screen memo function, the control part 20 carries outother processes corresponding to the input of the operation, forinstance, a process such as the selection of a channel or the adjustmentof sound volume, etc. (step S103) and repeats the processes from thestep 101. In the television picture receiver of the present embodiment,when the television mode is switched to other mode, the processingroutine (processing program) of the switched mode is executed. Then,when the mode is switched to the television mode, the processes from thestep S101 are repeated.

[0115] In the deciding process of the step S102, when the control part20 decides the input of the operation is an instruction for executingthe screen memo function, the control part 20 controls the capturememory part 5 as described above to fetch a video signal for forming animage of one screen to be displayed (step S104), and controls the switchcircuit 8 and the image synthesizing part 10 to display the image by thefetched video signal on the child screen 11S and the image of thetelevision broadcast program on the parent screen 11M (step 105).

[0116] The control part 20 decides whether or not the use of characterinformation in the image displayed on the small screen 11S as a staticimage is instructed, that is, whether or not the execution key 108 ofthe screen memo function is pressed down (step S106). In the decidingprocess of the step S106, when the control part decides that theexecution key 108 of the screen memo function is not pressed down, thecontrol part decides whether or not the erase key 109 for instructingthe screen memo function to be canceled and the child screen to beerased is pressed down (step S107).

[0117] In the deciding process of the step S107, when the control part20 decides that the erase key 109 is not pressed down, the control part20 repeats the processes from the step S106. When the control part 20decides that the erase key 109 is pressed down, the control part 20controls the image synthesizing part 10 to stop the synthesizing processof the video signal and thus erase the child screen (step S108), andrepeats the processes from the step S101.

[0118] In the deciding process of the step S106, when the control partdecides that the execution key 108 of the screen memo function ispressed down again, the control part 20 reads the video signal fetchedto the capture memory part 5 and carries out a character recognizingprocess by using the pattern matching method as described above (stepS109).

[0119] The control part 20 decides, as a result of the characterrecognizing process, whether or not the character information can berecognized (step S110). When the control part decides that the characterinformation cannot be recognized, that is, the character informationdoes not exist, the control part decides whether or not the erase key109 for instructing the screen memo function to be canceled and thechild screen to be erased is pressed down (step S111).

[0120] In the deciding process of the step S111, when the control partdecides that the erase key 109 is not pressed down, the control partrepeats the processes from the step S111 in the television picturereceiver of the present embodiment to wait for the depression of theerase key 109, since the character information does not exist or thecharacters cannot be recognized.

[0121] In the deciding process of the step S111, when the control partdecides that the erase key 109 is pressed down, the control part 20controls the image synthesizing part 10 to stop the synthesizing processof the video signal and thus erase the child screen (step S112), andrepeats the processes from the step S101.

[0122] Further, in the deciding process of the step S110, when thecontrol part decides that the character recognition can be successfullycarried out and the character information exists, the control part movesto processes shown in FIG. 7, extracts information for specifying theother party of a communication from the recognized character informationand stores and holds it in the EEPROM 24 of the present embodiment (stepS113).

[0123] The control part 20 decides whether or not the characterinformation extracted in the step S113 is a telephone number (stepS114). In this decision, when the extracted character information iscomposed of numeric characters having the prescribed number of digits,or only of the numeric characters having the prescribed number of digitsand prescribed symbols such as a left parenthesis “(”, a rightparenthesis “)”, a hyphen “-”, etc., the control part decides that theextracted character information is a telephone.

[0124] In the deciding process of the step S114, when the control partdecides that the extracted character information is a telephone number,the control part controls the telephone circuit 30 to perform a callingprocess in accordance with the telephone number extracted with thecharacters recognized and connect the telephone line to the other partyas a target (step S115) and speak to the other party as the target (stepS116).

[0125] After the completion of speaking, when an on-hook operation iscarried out, the control part 20 controls the image synthesizing part 10in this case to erase the display of the child screen and perform afinishing process for displaying the image of the television broadcastprogram on the entire screen of the display screen of the display 11(step S117) and repeats the processes from the step S101 shown in FIG.6.

[0126] In the deciding process of the step S114, when the control partdecides that the extracted character information whose characters arerecognized is not the telephone number, the control part decides whetheror not the extracted character information whose characters arerecognized is an electronic mail address (step S118). In this decision,the control part decides that the extracted character information is theelectronic mail address by recognizing a fact that the extractedcharacter information is composed of the numeric characters having theprescribed number of digits or alphabetical characters and a mark “@”exists at a prescribed position.

[0127] In the deciding process of the step S118, when the control partdecides that the extracted character information whose characters arerecognized is the electronic mail address, the control part 20 controlsthe selector 4 and the switch circuit 8 to display the televisionbroadcast program on the child screen 11S (step S119), and executes awriting program of an electronic mail to display the writing screen ofthe electronic mail on the parent screen 11M (step S120).

[0128] The control part receives an input for writing an electronic mail(step S121), and decides whether or not an input of a transmitinstruction from a user is received (step S122). In the deciding processof the step S122, when the control part decides that the input of thetransmit instruction is not received, the control part decides whetheror not an input of a finish instruction is received (step S123). Thedeciding process of the step S123 is a process for deciding whether ornot the writing program of the electronic mail is quitted withouttransmitting the written electronic mail irrespectively of writing theelectronic mail.

[0129] In the deciding process of the step S123, when the control partdecides that the input of the finish instruction is not received, thecontrol part repeats the processes from the step S121. In the decidingprocess of the step S123, when the control part decides that the finishinstruction is received, the control part performs finishing process ofthe step S117. In this case, the control part performs a storage processof the written electronic mail to finish the writing program of theelectronic mail, erases the child screen to display the image of thetelevision broadcast program on the entire screen of the display screenof the display 11 and repeats the processes from the step In thedeciding process of the step S122, when the control part decides thatthe input of the transmit instruction is received, the control partcontrols the telephone circuit 30 to use the telephone number of aprescribed ISP previously stored in the EEPROM 24, connect the telephoneline to the ISP and connect it to the internet through the ISP (stepS124).

[0130] Then, the written electronic mail is transmitted to the mail boxof the other party as a target through the ISP and the internet by usingthe extracted electronic mail address whose characters are recognized(step S125). Then, in the step S117, the finishing process is performed.In this case, the writing program of the electronic mail is finished toerase the child screen and display the image of the television broadcastprogram on the entire screen of the display screen of the display 11,and repeats the processes from the step S101.

[0131] In the deciding process of the step S118, when the control partdecides that the extracted character information whose characters arerecognized is not the electronic mail address, the control part 20shifts to processes shown in FIG. 8 to decide whether or not theextracted character information whose characters are recognized is theURL (step S126). In this decision, when the extracted characterinformation includes a character string used in the URL such as“http://”, etc. the extracted character string can be determined to bethe URL.

[0132] In the deciding process of the step S126, when the control partdecides that the extracted character string whose characters arerecognized is the URL, the control part 20 controls the selector 4 andthe switch circuit 8 as shown in FIG. 8 to display the televisionbroadcast program on the child screen 11S (step S127).

[0133] The control part 20 starts a browser, connects the telephone lineto the ISP using the telephone number of a prescribed ISP previouslystored in the EEPROM 24 and connects the telephone line to the internetthrough the ISP (step S128). Then, the control part accesses the Webpage specified on the basis of the URL extracted by recognizing thecharacters, supplies the Web page to the video signal processing part 7through the D/A converting part 6 and the selector 4 and displays theWeb page on the parent screen 11M of the display 11 (step S129).

[0134] Then, the control part receives an input to the Web page (stepS130) and decides whether or not a finish instruction is inputted (stepS131). In the deciding process of the step S131, when the control partdecides that the finish instruction is not inputted, the control part 20repeats the processed from the step S130.

[0135] In the deciding process of the step S131, when the control partdecides that the finish instruction is inputted, the control partreturns to the process of the step S117 shown in FIG. 7 to perform thefinishing process. In this case, the control part quits the browser toerase the child screen and display the image of the television broadcastprogram on the entire screen of the display screen of the display 11 andrepeats the processes from the step S101.

[0136] In the deciding process of the step S126, when the control partdecides that the extracted character information whose characters arerecognized is not the URL, the control part performs a process fordisplaying a message that information of accessed destination is notpresent on the display screen of the display 11 (step S132) and returnsto the process of the step S117 shown in FIG. 7. In this case, thecontrol part erases the child screen and display the image of thetelevision broadcast program on the entire screen of the display screenof the display 11 and repeats the processes from the step S101.

[0137] As described above, the television picture receiver of thepresent embodiment performs the screen memo function, under thetelevision mode, so that the image including necessary information suchas a telephone number, an electronic mail address, a URL, etc. as thedisplay information can be fetched as a static image and displayed onthe child screen.

[0138] Then, the character information as the display informationincluded in the fetched image is detected by recognizing the characters,so that a user can telephone, transmit an electronic mail, or access aWeb page by using the detected character information. Therefore, theuser can rapidly and accurately perform a communication with the otherparty as a desired target without separately inputting the informationfor specifying the other party of a communication such as the telephonenumber, the electronic mail address, the URL, etc.

[0139] In the above-described embodiment, when the screen memo functionis performed, the image is displayed in the display manner called a PinPand the image including the necessary information fetched as the staticimage as the display information is displayed on the child screen.

[0140] However, the displaying manner of the image is not limited to thePinP. For instance, the image may be displayed in a displaying mannercalled a PoutP (Picture out Picture) that the child screen is providedoutside the display area of the parent screen so that child screen doesnot hide the image displayed on the parent screen in the display screenof the display including the two screens of the parent screen and thechild screen.

[0141] Further, the image may be displayed in a displaying manner forperforming a two-screen display of a left screen and a right screenformed by longitudinally dividing the display screen of the display intotwo parts in the center of a transverse direction. Briefly, the presentinvention may be applied to any displaying manner by which the image canbe displayed by a displaying function having two or more screens.

[0142] Still further, in the above-described embodiment, although a CRTdisplay is employed as the display 11, it is to be understood that thepresent invention is not limited thereto and a display such as an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) may be employed.

[0143] Further, a coordinate position detecting means provided on adisplay screen such as a so-called touch panel (touch screen) may beattached to the display screen of the display, and may be used as aninput of a using instruction of information for specifying the otherparty of a communication displayed on the child screen 11S when thefingers of a user come into contact with the display area of the childscreen 11S on which the information for specifying the other party ofthe communication is displayed.

[0144] It is to be recognized that the fetch instruction input acceptingmeans or the using instruction input accepting means may be composed notonly of button switches provided in the remote commander or thetelevision picture receiver, but also of a touch panel attached to thedisplay screen of the display and the display information displayed onthe display.

[0145] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the screen memo key108 of the remote commander 100 is pressed down to capture the displayedimage, and the screen memo key 108 is pressed down again to transmit atelephone call when a telephone number exists in the image captured anddisplayed on the child screen, write a mail when a mail address existstherein, jump on a Web page when a URL exists therein and erase thechild screen in a case except them. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto.

[0146] In any of the cases that the telephone call is transmitted, ifthe above-described telephone number exists, the mail is written, if themail address exists, and the Web page is jumped on, if the URL exists,when the screen memo key 108 is pressed down again, the display of thechild screen is erased. Further, in these cases, when it is desired toperform a communication process in accordance with the displayed andcharacter-recognized information, the process is shifted to a process tobe executed next by a different operation.

[0147] For example, in the cases that the telephone call is transmitted,if the telephone number exists, the mail is written, if the mail addressexists, and the Web page is jumped on, if the URL exists, when any ofthe four-way key of the up and/or down key 117, the right arrow key 118and the left arrow key 119 of the remote commander 100 is operated, theinformation such as the telephone number, the electronic mail address orthe URL is displayed in an inverted or highlighted manner.

[0148] The enter key 116 is pressed down to telephone, write andtransmit the electronic mail or connect the telephone line to theinternet so as to jump on the Web page on the basis of the informationincluded in the captured image and displayed in an inverted orhighlighted manner.

[0149] In such a manner, the image on which necessary information isdisplayed can be captured and displayed on the child screen and thechild screen can be erased by a simple operation such as the depressionof the same screen memo key. When the communication process is carriedout based on the character-recognized information displayed on the childscreen, a user can be ascertained whether or not the communication iscarried out. Therefore, the communication can be prevented from beingreadily carried out and a wasteful communication cost can be avoided.

[0150] In the above-described embodiment, although the communicationwith the other party is performed by using the screen memo function, itis to be noted that the switch key to the internet mode, the switch keyto the electronic mail mode and the switch key to the telephone mode ofthe remote commander 100 may be operated in the television picturereceiver of the present embodiment to switch a mode to the respectivemodes and input the URL, the electronic mail address or the telephonenumber so that the Web page can be accessed, the electronic mail can betransmitted or the telephone call can be transmitted.

[0151] In the above-described embodiment, although the present inventionis applied as an example to the television picture receiver forreceiving and selecting the analog television broadcasting signal ofground wave, the present invention is not limited thereto. The presentinvention can be also applied to a television picture receiver having asatellite broadcast receiving function, a television picture receiverhaving a data broadcast receiving function, and a television picturereceiver having a cable television broadcast receiving function.Further, the present invention can be applied to a television picturereceiver having a plurality of receiving functions of these receivingfunctions.

[0152] In the above-described embodiment, although the present inventionis applied, as an example, to the television picture receiver, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can beapplied to, for example, a receiver called an STB (Set-Top Box) as acable television broadcast receiver or a receiver called an IRD(Integrated Receiver/Decoder).

[0153] In this case, the receiver may be loaded with a telephone circuitfor realizing a communicating function, a child screen processing partor an image synthesizing part for realizing a two screen function, andfurther a capture memory part and various kinds of programs such as aprogram required for performing a character recognizing process. Thus,in the receiver, an image may be captured, a two-screen process may becarried out and a processed video signal may be supplied to a monitorpicture receiver.

[0154] While viewing the image displayed on the display screen of themonitor picture receiver, the receiver is controlled so that an imageincluding character information for specifying the other party of acommunication as display information can be fetched as a static image,the character information included in the fetched image can be detectedby recognizing characters and a communication can be performed byemploying the detected information like the television picture receiverof the above-described embodiment.

[0155] The present invention can be also applied to a video signalreproducing device for reproducing a video signal stored in a recordingmedium such as a VTR or a DVD device. In this case, a video signal forforming an image of one screen on which information indicating the otherparty of a communication is displayed among images displayed by areproduced video signal can be fetched and the information indicatingthe other party of the communication displayed by the fetched videosignal can be extracted by recognizing characters and employed for acommunication process.

[0156] For instance, the present invention may be similarly applied to avideo signal processor and an image display device serving as themonitor picture receiver of the television picture receiver and havingan external input terminal. In this case, the video signal for formingthe image of one screen on which the information indicating the otherparty of a communication is displayed among the images displayed by avideo signal supplied through the external input terminal can be fetchedand the information indicating the other party of the communicationdisplayed by the fetched video signal can be extracted by recognizingthe characters and employed for the communication process.

[0157] Specifically, the video signal for forming the image of onescreen to be fetched may be a video signal of a television broadcastsignal received and selected in the channel selecting part loaded on itsown machine or a video signal supplied through the external inputterminal from an external receiver or the video signal reproducingdevice.

[0158] Accordingly, when the external input terminal is provided in thetelevision picture receiver shown in FIG. 1, the video signal from thedemodulating part 3 may be outputted and supplied to the selector 4 inthe pre-stage of the selector 4 or a selector for switching whether ornot a video signal from the external input terminal is outputted andsupplied to the selector 4 may be provided. The selector may be switchedby an external input switch key provided on the remote commander.

[0159] Further, the information for specifying the other party of thecommunication detected by recognizing the characters is stored in, forinstance, the EEPROM or the like, so that the stored information can beused as a so-called address book. Further, the URL detected byrecognizing the characters can be registered and used as a URL employedfor a bookmark or a favorite function as the function of a browser.Still further, the information indicating the other party of thecommunication is not limited to the telephone number, the electronicmail address and the URL and may include information for specifying theother party of a communication by a mail such as zip codes, addressesand destinations, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0160] In the present invention, character information provided asdisplay information can be extracted and secondarily employed. Further,when the character information provided as the display information isinformation for specifying the other party of a communication such astelephone number, an electronic mail address, a URL or the like, theinformation can be detected without annoying the hand of a user and acommunication with the other party as a desired mate can be rapidly andprecisely performed and the internet can be more simply used.

1. A video signal processor comprising: fetch instruction inputaccepting means which accept an image fetch instruction input inaccordance with a received or read video signal; image storing meanswhich fetch the video signal of one screen and store it when the fetchinstruction input is accepted by the fetch instruction input acceptingmeans; video signal processing means which provide a subscreen in adisplay area as apart of a display screen when the fetch instructioninput is accepted by the fetch instruction input accepting means so thatthe image by the video signal of one screen stored in the image storingmeans is displayed on the subscreen and the image in accordance with thereceived or read video signal is displayed on the main screen of thedisplay area except the subscreen; character information recognizingmeans which recognize characters in character information displayed inthe image displayed by the video signal of one screen stored in theimage storing means; character information extracting means whichextract necessary information from the character information thecharacters of which are recognized by the character recognizing means;and character information storing means which store the characterinformation extracted by the character information extracting means. 2.The video signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the informationextracted by the character information extracting means is informationshowing the other party of a communication.
 3. The video signalprocessor according to claim 2, wherein the information indicating theother party of the communication is a telephone number.
 4. The videosignal processor according to claim 2, wherein the information showingthe other party of the communication is an electronic mail address of adestination to which an electronic mail is transmitted.
 5. The videosignal processor according to claim 2, wherein the informationindicating the other party of the communication is specific informationfor specifying provided information provided on a communication network.6. The video signal processor according to claim 1, including a displayelement having a display screen provided with the main screen and thesubscreen.
 7. A video signal processor comprising: communicating meansto be connected to a communication network so that a communicationprocess is performed; fetch instruction input accepting means whichaccept an image fetch instruction input in accordance with a received orread video signal; image storing means which fetch the video signal ofone screen and store it when the fetch instruction input is accepted bythe fetch instruction input accepting means; video signal processingmeans which provide a subscreen in a display area as a part of a displayscreen when the fetch instruction input is accepted by the fetchinstruction input accepting means so that the image by the video signalof one screen stored in the image storing means is displayed on thesubscreen and the image in accordance with the received or read videosignal is displayed on the main screen of the display area except thesubscreen; using instruction input accepting means which accept theusing instruction input of character information included in the imagedisplayed on the subscreen; character information recognizing meanswhich recognize characters in the character information displayed in theimage displayed by the video signal of one screen stored in the imagestoring means, when the using instruction input is accepted through theusing instruction input accepting means; character informationextracting means which extract character information indicating theother party of a communication from the character information thecharacters of which are recognized by the character recognizing means;and control means which control to perform a communication processthrough the communicating means on the basis of the characterinformation extracted by the character extracting means.
 8. The videosignal processor according to claim 7, further comprising speaking meansconnected to the communicating means to speak to the other party,wherein when the character information indicating the other party of thecommunication is a telephone number, the control means controls thecommunicating means to connect a communication line to the other partyof the telephone number so as to speak through the speaking means. 9.The video signal processor according to claim 7, wherein when thecharacter information indicating the other party of the communication iselectronic mail address information showing a destination to which anelectronic mail is transmitted, the communication control means displaysa creating screen for the electronic mail under a state in which theelectronic mail address information is already inputted, so that theelectronic mail can be created and transmitted.
 10. The video signalprocessor according to claim 9, wherein when the using instruction inputis accepted by the using instruction input accepting means, the videosignal processing means display the image in accordance with thereceived or read video signal on the subscreen and the creating screenfor the electronic mail is displayed on the main screen.
 11. The videosignal processor according to claim 7, wherein when the informationindicating the other party of the communication is specific informationfor specifying information provided on the communication network, thecommunication control means control the communicating means to connect acommunication line to the communication network so that the providedinformation can be used by using the specific information.
 12. The videosignal processor according to claim 11, wherein when the usinginstruction input is accepted by the using instruction input acceptingmeans, the video signal processing means display the image in accordancewith the supplied video signal on the subscreen and the providedinformation is displayed on the main screen.
 13. The video signalprocessor according to claim 7, including a display element having adisplay screen provided with the main screen and the subscreen.